5spd + Pro5.0 = hard to put in 1st gear?

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bsedwebt70-5.0

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Jul 1, 2004

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Charlottesville, VA

Nov 21, 2006

#1

• Nov 21, 2006

• #1

Anybody else have this problem? I have had both Steeda Tri-ax and Pro 5.0 shifters on a couple of 5spds and both were hard to put in first gear when sitting stopped at a red light. New pilot bearing, new throwout bearing, new Centerforce Dual friction clutch, resurfaced flywheel, professionally rebuilt engine and transmission, new clutch cable properly adjusted, replaced clutch pivot with metal one under the dash, new clutch fork, etc... Both have always shifted great and will go into first gear easily if the car is slightly rolling - but not easy to get in first gear from a dead stop. Is this just something I have to live with due to the short shifter not having enough leverage. I have another mustang with the factory shifter in it with a longer handle on it that goes into first gear just fine.

 

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Sicarius428

Active Member

Jan 6, 2004

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Nov 21, 2006

#2

• Nov 21, 2006

• #2

I had that same problem. My T5 synchro was on its way out.
Kevin

 

Redfire 05

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Apr 6, 2005

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Lubbock, TX

Nov 21, 2006

#3

• Nov 21, 2006

• #3

My pro 5.0 is like that as well.

 

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bentley429

Banned

Nov 25, 2004

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Connecticut

Nov 21, 2006

#4

• Nov 21, 2006

• #4

Mine is also, might have to pick up a MGW someday.

 

Darkwriter77

Resident Ranting Negative Nancy

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Jul 1, 2005

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Apache Junction, AZ

Nov 21, 2006

#5

• Nov 21, 2006

• #5

Ditto here - same setup (Pro 5.0 base and Tri-Ax handle). I've found that I have to double-clutch it, basically, to keep it from being tough to push into 1st if you're rolling to a stop and taking off again; unless you put it in neutral, let off the clutch, push in, and then move into 1st gear, it's either near-impossible to shove into 1st straight from 2nd or any other gear, or it'll sometimes grind.

I'd always thought it was some kind of 1st-gear-lockout safety thing, as it seems to do the same thing on my buddy's '90 notch with a Hurst Billet Plus shifter base. That, and having to shift into 5th before going into reverse gear - trademark quirk of the T-5.

 

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v8only

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Jul 3, 2003

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Nov 22, 2006

#6

• Nov 22, 2006

• #6

my pro 5.0 goes in no problems at all. I'm still betting on the clutch adj, where does your clutch grab when you let up, right off the floor?

 

795.0pacecar

lover of pudgy polygamists

Jul 11, 2003

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Senoia, GA

Nov 22, 2006

#7

• Nov 22, 2006

• #7

Mine goes into gear fine too.

 

Flavadave4

Active Member

Nov 28, 2003

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Utica, NY

Nov 22, 2006

#8

• Nov 22, 2006

• #8

mine is a little sticky when going in......i never thought much about it, I thoght that was how it was supposed to feel. All i know is that it is quick and accurate when bangin the gears

 

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Sicarius428

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Jan 6, 2004

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Nov 22, 2006

#9

• Nov 22, 2006

• #9

I just noticed mine getting progressively worse when I had my T5. I bought an MGW which I don't know helped or hurt my T5 more... my mannerism after getting the MGW was pretty harsh which soon led to its destruction. At first I thought it was a maladjusted clutch seeing I had all the stock linkage besides a Centerforce. I purchased a Redline D4, Fiore FWA, Ford universal clutch cable and an MM quadrant which in theory should give me the ability to adjust the clutch so it is fully disengaged. None of it helped. Didn't matter where I adjusted it, after the trans was warm it was still hard to get into gear.
Kevin

 

LEE93COBRA

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Apr 12, 2000

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Alabama

Nov 22, 2006

#10

• Nov 22, 2006

• #10

that's more of a t-5 thing. Not necessarily the shifter

 

795.0pacecar

lover of pudgy polygamists

Jul 11, 2003

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Senoia, GA

Nov 22, 2006

#11

• Nov 22, 2006

• #11

I think this is a transmission problem, the dog teeth are likely worn out if the syncros aren't. The only gear my T5 (which has about 40 miles on the rebuild) goes into a little stiffly is reverse.

 

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postalbunny

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Oct 26, 2005

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Nov 22, 2006

#12

• Nov 22, 2006

• #12

Mine (tri-ax) goes in just fine... only problem ever experiences is sometimes it not wanting to go into rev /w out putting it into 1st gear first. (don't have to let clutch out).

Mabeyyoure stopps are set to hard? Check the instructions and make sure you didn't set them to far out... only thing I can think of besides a trannyproblem there.

 

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bsedwebt70-5.0

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Jul 1, 2004

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Charlottesville, VA

Nov 23, 2006

#13

• Nov 23, 2006

• #13

thanks guys - as I said - everything is new on the current setup and has been adjusted properly - the clutch starts to engage a few inches from the top of travel - just where I like it on all of the t-5's I have had and it has done this on EVERY PRO 5.0 or Steeda TriAx I have used on both recently rebuilt or well used t-5's -- it only does it from a DEAD stop after sitting at a light for a normal amount - it leave it in neutral while waiting and then go to put it in gear with my clutch all the way to the floor - it is hard to push into 1st gear - lots of pressure needed but then it slams right in to gear hitting the positive stop solidly when it does. It will go in with ease if the car is rolling only a little bit so I figured it was a leverage thing - the short throw shifter is nice in all other gears but that 33% reduction in throw must equal 33% less mechanical advantage in going into 1st gear.

 

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dec322

Member

Feb 11, 2006

401

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Bham AL

Nov 23, 2006

#14

• Nov 23, 2006

• #14

I just started having this problem with my regular shifter. At first the clutch disengaged (pushed in) too high. So I did some adjustments at the clutch fork and it moved the disengaging point to the bottom. Unfortunately it was too low and I couldn't get the clutch to fully disengage when pressing the pedal down. The biggest problem it caused for me was hard to shift in first when at a stop.

Anyways, I don't guess this is your problem b/c you say it is where its always been. I just hope that I won't have the same problem when I get a shortshifter.....it is too annoying having to slam first gear....I thought something would break.

 

timeless2

Vi Veri Veni Versum Vicus Vici

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Nov 29, 1999

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the Shadow Gallery

Nov 23, 2006

#15

• Nov 23, 2006

• #15

I think the issue lies within your transmission, not the shifter.

 

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v8only

Active Member

Jul 3, 2003

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Nov 23, 2006

#16

• Nov 23, 2006

• #16

timeless2 said:

I think the issue lies within your transmission, not the shifter.

Click to expand...

you nailed it. I've used this pro 5.0 with two different t5's now, and it goes in like butter.

 

795.0pacecar

lover of pudgy polygamists

Jul 11, 2003

480

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Senoia, GA

Nov 23, 2006

#17

• Nov 23, 2006

• #17

Im still leaning towads dog teeth or maybe even a cracked shift fork. Even with a fresh rebuild, worn dog teeth and broken shift forks are often missed.

 

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v8only

Active Member

Jul 3, 2003

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Nov 23, 2006

#18

• Nov 23, 2006

• #18

hey, which part has the dog teeth?

 

795.0pacecar

lover of pudgy polygamists

Jul 11, 2003

480

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Senoia, GA

Nov 24, 2006

#19

• Nov 24, 2006

• #19

The part of the gear that the slider engages to, they are what grind when the synros are going out or when you don't push the clutch in all the way.